Cowboy Basketball Gains Alabama Transfer

Charles Hankerson, Jr. is becoming a Cowboy. He will transfer to the University of Wyoming from the University of Alabama with two years of eligibility remaining after he sits out the 2012-13 season. Cowboy basketball coach Larry Shyatt made the announcement Monday.

“This is a great family and I think probably one of the strengths he brings to the table is his experience and his maturity. He’s got 15-16 months to not only display the leadership, but also really start to put our program in a position where we’re thinking down the road instead of a day-to-day timetable,” said Shyatt on what Hankerson will add to the Cowboys. “Of course he comes at a great time because one of our best players returning, Luke Martinez is in his last year and we’re gonna miss him. I would say Junior is a different kind of player but I would say also that we’re getting a high caliber player who’s going to play high quality minutes and he’s going to have to be in a position of leadership very soon.”

With the Crimson Tide, Hankerson averaged 3.0 points and 1.4 boards in just over 11 minutes of playing time per game. The 6’5″ guard hit a team-best 32.7 percent of his shots from beyond the arc in his sophomore season.

“When I went for my visit I loved the campus, I loved the whole atmosphere and just the people,” commented Hankerson on his decision to transfer to UW. “Everybody seemed really into the university and the fact that the school is the only one in the state really factored into my decision. So I’m just really happy with this whole process and I’m happy to be a Cowboy.”

Hankerson also said his previous relationship with the coaching staff, of whom several tried to recruit him out of high school, was part of the reason why he chose Wyoming.

“Coach Shyatt, I knew him from back in the day when he was at Florida, he was recruiting me there and Coach Edwards and little Shyatt, I knew them at VCU.” said Hankerson. ”Everything just seemed to line up perfectly.”

According to Hankerson, the plan is for him to enroll in summer classes and be in Laramie in May so he can begin training with the team. Hankerson is the son of Charles Sr. and Cheryl Hankerson. His father played basketball at Hampton University and is second all-time in school history with 551 assists from 1979-1983. He is the second player to sign with the Cowboys during this late signing period.